Workshops

Workshops

These engaging hands-on sessions provide the ABCs of Living History!

The Art of Living History

The rudiments of what Living History is all about. More exciting than the typical history class. Beyond the limits of stage drama. A memorable educational experience that impacts multiple senses.

The Business of Living History

Consistent, reliable, professional, flexible, purposeful. Schools and organizations need more than just a program. The remarkable experience begins before the presentation and lasts well after you leave your audience.

The Connection of Living History

The relevance of history. Stories of the past explain our present condition and inform our future endeavors. They are inclusive, detailed, well researched and connects us to the fortitude, perseverance, and pioneering spirit of those who came before us.

This session will highlight basic tips on living history performances/presentations; cover some important topics on the “business” of living history, and how to approach controversial topics in the history field. The basic tips will focus on keeping your presentation interactive, energetic, and engaging. The topics of the “business” of living history will include professional practices, responsibilities of interpreting history, and successfully working with schools and school-age students. Finally, we’ll discuss approaching controversial topics and being sensitive to regional, racial (cultural), and religious concerns.
This session brings all things living history to the table. With tips for both beginning interpreters and seasoned living history professionals, there is something for everyone. These strategies will help participants reflect their own passion for history in the work they do in museums, historical farms and villages, and reaching out to schools.

How do you become a history detective, history keeper, and a history teller, and do that all as somebody else using first person interpretive techniques? This workshop takes you through the process of interpreting history by developing a strong historical character to reflect a turbulent time, a significant historical event, or just an interesting person.

Send your audience on a historical journey of a lifetime. Utilizing the power of “character”, key historical facts, and exciting interaction techniques, you can engage and enlighten any audience with an experience they will never forget. In this workshop you will learn the pros and cons of first person and third person interpretation; get tips on developing living history characters; and pick up new strategies to engage an audience.

Interpreting the African American Legacy is a wonderful opportunity to keep alive stories and experiences that are important cornerstones of American History. Developing a first-person character presentation is a great way to reflect the human impact within different historical periods. This webinar will cover the basics of creating a first-person character, particularly from the African American experience; and gives some strategies for overcoming the challenges and difficulties you may face preparing and/or presenting this unique and significant history.

Popular Impressions

The Experience

"I think you did a great job staying in character while we were at the library. I bet you had to do a lot of research to know all of those things about soldiers during the war. You were very energetic on stage. I don't like history at all but watching you made it very, very interesting. If our teachers taught history like you did every day, students would pay attention more. Thank you so much for taking your time to create and perform the Civil War reenactment."

Havana-Elementary Student 25th Avenue International Elementary

"It was very fun seeing you perform for my class. You were very dramatic in your performance which made it less serious but very interesting. You made it seem as though you were actually there in the war. You have also made me much more interested in History. It seems as though you have been studying History since you were four years old. I enjoyed watching you perform. I could watch you do more reenactments."

Emma-Elementary Student 15th Avenue Elementary

"The first grade teachers commented that anyone who could keep their kids spellbound for a full hour has to be fabulous! We have had him before and loved him just as much this time. He was the perfect person to have before visiting Hanby House this week, which was a station on the Underground Railroad.
"Fourth graders did tableaus with him in the afternoon and were gushing with stories of what they did with him on Monday after Easter weekend. They also loved how he changed outfits and characters. They were spellbound."
"I think he's one of the very best and I would recommend him to any grade level. He does a good job of helping kids understand and relate to the topic and characters."

"I thought Anthony Gibbs was amazing. The students were captivated by him and his presentation The students and I learned a lot. Thank you very much. I would highly recommend him to other schools and programs. Yes, the students thought he as good. A couple thought he was "crazy" 🙂 but they all enjoyed it."

Anonymous Middle School TeacherOhio Alliance for Arts Education

"Mr. Gibbs was FANTASTIC! His program was exciting and he held the audience's attention throughout. I look forward to having Mr. Gibbs do programs for us in the future. He was so engaging! I wish all children could learn history the way Mr. Gibbs presents it!"

Anonymous Elementary School TeacherOhio Alliance for Arts Education

Our Goal

Historic Impressions seeks to create unforgettable experiences through significant stories from the past that give relevant, valuable insights for the present and the future.

Historic Impressions is also devoted to building the character of all generations by being a bridge to the legacy of responsibility, courage, and heroism of real figures in history.